Pi-Consulting

Three European countries lead the world in internet usage, according to new research from The Pew Charitable Trusts. Fieldwork for “Truly a World Wide Web”, conducted in early 2005, when linked with other available data, puts Sweden top of the chart with 77% of its citizens browsing the Net and/or using e-mail. Next come the Netherlands (72%) and then the UK and Canada (71%), narrowly knocking the USA into fifth place with 70%. The high figure for the Netherlands users is influenced by cheaper broadband subscription prices; the Dutch pay $20 a month, compared to a European average of $44. Computer use seems roughly even between the sexes, though French males access computers in bigger numbers than females. All countries show a marked age bias towards younger groups. American internet users are one-third more likely to be aged 65 or older than British users, who in turn are twice as likely as the French to be aged 65+. (Source: International Herald Tribune, World Advertising Research Council)